'Top Model' star praises "beautiful" Tyra

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America's Next Top Model eliminee Alasia Ballard has praised show creator Tyra Banks for her support.

The 18-year-old student, who was eliminated from the CW competition last week, told Digital Spy that she was honored that Banks even allowed her to appear on the show.

"She is a sweetheart! She's such a beautiful person! You don't even have to talk to her to see that!" she said.

"You see her on TV and think, 'Oh yeah that's Tyra Banks', but in person there is this light about her, and you don't even have to talk to her to see that she's a beautiful person on the inside. She does a lot for us and I just appreciate her even acknowledging my existence and allowing me to be on the show."

Ballard also said that she appreciated the support she received from Vogue's André Leon Talley.

"I did not know honestly that he took such a liking to me, so just watching that makes me feel really good - that they see something in me, that I have potential and maybe could succeed in the modeling industry."